New guy, how to go about first performance mods?

[Donuts_R_Us]

Hey folks, long time lurker first time poster, happy owner of a GT w/ the performance package.

After a year of ownership, I’m finally looking into upgrading but I’m admittedly inexperienced and fairly ignorant to a degree. I’m less concerned with adding power and more so concerned with keeping the vehicle planted for what I want to do with it.

A few issues I’ve consistently noticed over the past year I want to fix is wheel spin at launch, which sometimes results in the car feeling like it’s sliding just slightly to the left as it picks up grip (this may be a tire issue tbh, but again I’m too inexperienced to really know for sure), and that floating feeling at speed, which is prevalent even in sportier drive modes.

Not sure if there’s a good mix of options for what I want to do. I’d really like to do a mix of both track and strip, while not ruining daily drivability too much. It seems like a lot of advice reading around is geared towards one or the other. I get it, they’re different disciplines, but my state doesn’t have enough track to dedicate to one over the other if I want to have fun.

first things I’m reading are to just start with Steeda wheel hop kits, which is great but I don’t quite know what fits my needs and what I’d be missing out on going for the basic starter kit. I’m planning on upgrading to bigger wheels and wider tires soon as well but that’s a separate conversation. Really just looking for advice on what I can do to fix my current issues and other things I should look out for and consider as I go forward.

and if anybody from New Mexico has any recommendations on mechanics that’d be great :]

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[smurfslayer]

Always upgrade with a plan and be honest about your current use case, how you might use in the future and what mods may help get you to your goal.

For example, you mention looking at the suspension / traction, which is smart.

You can do the street starter kit from Steeda, and some bracing. None of that is going to harm the car, but you may incur some additional NVH. For initial mods you can improve on both, but at a certain point, strip time mods go in kind of the opposite of road course.

Are you staying naturally aspirated or thinking blower or turbos?

 

[Donuts_R_Us]

Always upgrade with a plan and be honest about your current use case, how you might use in the future and what mods may help get you to your goal.

For example, you mention looking at the suspension / traction, which is smart.

You can do the street starter kit from Steeda, and some bracing. None of that is going to harm the car, but you may incur some additional NVH. For initial mods you can improve on both, but at a certain point, strip time mods go in kind of the opposite of road course.

Are you staying naturally aspirated or thinking blower or turbos?

NA for now, but definitely considering twins in a few years. Hellions local, after all. I’m riding out the warranty first before I starting screwing with that side of things. I’d rather focus on the driver mod lol

 

[D/\rK•650]

You have a standard transmission? If it feels floaty at speed maybe check alignment? I dont think it should feel floaty? You have the PP pack too. That comes with upgraded suspension and wider tires, stronger sway bars? I have the darkhorse with handling package so im familiar with that,just not sure about the GTs. New to Mustang/Ford.

 

[BimmerDriver]

I’d rather focus on the driver mod lol

That's the best money spent, honestly. Do some hpde, do some drag events, become a better driver. Then you can start spending on the car.

If it feels floaty at speed maybe check alignment?

Great place to start!

 

[OldCoastie]

I come from the old school as I am an old guy, so when I built cars I always started with a goal based on what you want the car to do, autocross, road race, drag race, show and go, street. then develop the definition plan, cost analysis, schedule, vendors all over time. When that is together, I normally started at the engine, as I usually pulled the entire engine out and stated with the crank, pistons, cam, heads, and up before I even thought of headers, manifolds, injection throttle body or supercharger, fuel deliver, all just for the Engine, even ignition, and of course cooling better cooling systems. When engine is out ideal time to do you upgrades for the suspension, electrical, and fuel/brake lines. Previous person mentioned suspension down to subframes, better bushing, arms etc, larger sway bars and so on. all of this is so important. I happen to believe anything approaching 600 you got to consider a better power train rear and transmission, better pressure plate and scatter shield.. I know I am old fashion but you know it worked for me. YOU MUST HAVE A PLAN. Think of it as a project plan. Each detail has to be formatted out, and know the cost and most of all know the goal of what you want. DON't sway off course, and if you start it make sure you finish it, you can loss a ton of money. Oh one other thing, put aside a reserve of a few thousand dollars, because of Murphy's Law, it will happen.

 

[Alan Applegate]

Well.... As we always said in high school... If it doesn't go, chrome it!

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